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Gamla stan, Stockholm's old town, at dusk

No. 67 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Stockholm

Sweden

Sweden's capital on 14 islands: a medieval old town, a salvaged warship, design and archipelago boat trips.

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Photo: Richardmaackphotography, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Stockholm is No. 67 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Sweden's capital is built on 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea.

Water and green space are everywhere: the old town, royal palace and museums are linked by bridges and ferries, and thousands of islands in the archipelago lie a boat ride away.

The carved stern of the Vasa ship in the Vasa Museum
The carved stern of the Vasa ship in the Vasa Museum. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

May to September brings long, light days; midsummer in late June is a highlight.

Winter is cold and dark, but December brings Christmas markets, including the one in Gamla stan's Stortorget square.

Top sights

  • 1

    Gamla stan

    The old town of narrow medieval lanes, with the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral and Stortorget square.

  • 2

    Vasa Museum In our Top Landmarks

    A 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was raised almost intact in 1961.

  • 3

    Skansen

    The world's oldest open-air museum, opened in 1891, with historic buildings and Nordic animals on Djurgården.

  • 4

    ABBA The Museum

    An interactive museum about the Swedish pop group, also on Djurgården.

  • 5

    Stockholm City Hall

    A landmark red-brick building with a tower and the Golden Hall; visit on a guided tour.

  • 6

    Fotografiska

    A museum of contemporary photography in a former customs house on Södermalm, with views from its café.

  • 7

    The archipelago

    Take a ferry out to islands such as Vaxholm or Fjäderholmarna for a day on the water.

Getting there

Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) is about 40 km north of the city. The Arlanda Express train reaches Stockholm Central in about 20 minutes; commuter trains and airport coaches are cheaper.

Trains arrive from Gothenburg, Oslo and Copenhagen, and overnight ferries sail from Helsinki, Turku and Tallinn.

Getting around

SL runs the metro (tunnelbana), buses, trams, commuter trains and some ferries. Tap a contactless card or phone at the barriers, or use the SL app.

Many metro stations are decorated with art, and the central islands are easy to explore on foot.

Practical tips

Currency
Swedish krona (SEK). Sweden is almost cashless, and cards are accepted everywhere.
Language
Swedish. English is very widely spoken.
Safety
Stockholm is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded areas. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Sweden is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C and F.

Official information: Visit Stockholm (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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